Comparación de Tres Modelos de Riesgo de Uso Nocivo de Alcohol en Estudiantes Mexicanos / Comparison of Three Risk Models of Harmful Use of Alcohol in Mexican Students

Resumen: El presente estudio se planteó como objetivo identificar correlatos psicosociales del consumo nocivo de alcohol en estudiantes mexicanos, así como probar comparativamente la validez y capacidad explicativa de tres modelos teóricos y de medición de estos factores, a fin de apoyar la investigación del problema y dar pauta al desarrollo de acciones preventivas teórica y empíricamente sustentadas. Estos tres modelos son: la teoría de las expectativas, la teoría del aprendizaje social de R. Akers y la teoría de la conducta planificada. Los hallazgos indican que los tres modelos tienen una buena capacidad predictiva del consumo nocivo de alcohol en la población de estudio. El mayor peso corresponde a las expectativas positivas asociadas a los efectos del alcohol, seguidas por el uso de alcohol entre pares, una baja percepción de riesgo y, como factor protector, la capacidad percibida para controlar la cantidad que se bebe. Los hallazgos reflejan la conveniencia de aplicar un modelo multivariado compuesto por variables provenientes de los tres modelos.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify psychosocial correlates of harmful alcohol use among young Mexican students, and to comparatively prove the predictive validity of three theoretical models, each one capable to support the research of the problem and to guide the design of theoretically and empirically grounded preventive and treatment programs: a) the alcohol expectancies theory, b) the social learning theory by R. Akers, and c) the planned behavior theory. Findings indícate that these three models are appropriate predictive models for harmful alcohol use in the studied group. The highest predictive weight belongs to positive expectancies associated to the effects of alcohol, followed by alcohol use among friends, low risk perception, and self-control of alcohol drinking as a protective factor. Findings suggest the convenience of the application of a composed multi-varied algorithm, integrated by factors and variables extracted from the three models.

Asertividad y consumo de drogas en estudiantes mexicanos / Assertiveness and drug use among Mexican students / Assertividade e consumo de drogas em estudantes mexicanos

El estudio persiguió evaluar la relación entre una baja asertividad y el uso de drogas ilícitas entre estudiantes mexicanos, así como identificar si alguna de las características asertivas como control conductual, reconocimiento y aceptación de los demás, enfrentamiento eficaz de los problemas y diferencias interpersonales, percepción de autoeficacia en la resolución de problemas, habilidades en la expresión verbal y afectos positivos asociados al enfrentamiento de problemas, predicen probabilísticamente el consumo de drogas ilícitas. Se utilizó un diseño no experimental, transversal, ex post facto, y con un muestreo por conveniencia, se encuestó a 1.492 estudiantes de escuelas secundarias localizadas en zonas de alto riesgo para el consumo de drogas utilizando la escala de Evaluación de Factores Asertivos (EFA), validada en población mexicana adolescente. De los estudiantes participantes se conformaron dos grupos: el de Usuarios de drogas ilícitas y el de No usuarios de drogas. Al comparar las características asertivas entre ambos grupos, se encontró que los No usuarios cuentan con estrategias de enfrentamiento más eficaces a los problemas, perciben mayor autoeficacia en su resolución, tienen mayor control conductual, mayor reconocimiento y aceptación de los demás, presentan más habilidades de expresión verbal y tienen un mejor manejo de sus afectos. Asimismo, se identificó mediante un análisis de regresión logística que el control conductual y el reconocimiento y aceptación de los demás son elementos con mayor probabilidad de fungir como elementos protectores del consumo de drogas ilícitas. Los hallazgos confirman la relevancia de las habilidades comunicativas, el control de impulsos y el manejo de emociones, para el establecimiento de relaciones más satisfactorias y en el enfrentamiento ante la oferta de tabaco, alcohol u otras drogas.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between low assertiveness and illicit drug use among high school students, and to determine which of the assertive characteristics such as behavioral control, recognition and acceptance of others, effective coping with problems and interpersonal differences, perceived self-efficacy in problem solving, verbal expression skills and positive affect in dealing with problems, acted as predictors of consumption. The research used a non- experimental cross-sectional and ex post facto design. By means of a non-probabilistic sampling technique, 1492 high school students were selected from schools located in high risk areas for drug consumption and were surveyed through the Assertive Factors Assessment Scale [EFA for its Spanish acronym], validated with Mexican adolescent population. The students were divided in two groups, the Illicit Drug users and the Non-drug users. After comparing the assertive characteristics between both groups, it was found that Non-drug users have more effective strategies for coping with problems, a perception of higher self-efficacy in solving problems, higher behavioral control, greater recognition and acceptance of others, better verbal expression skills and a more effective emotional management. It also found by logistic regression analysis that behavioral control and recognition and acceptance of others were factors most likely to serve as protective factors of illicit drug use. Results confirm the importance of communication skills, impulse control and emotional management for establishing more satisfying relationships and coping with access to tobacco, alcohol or illicit drugs.

O estudo buscou avaliar a relação entre uma baixa assertividade e o uso de drogas ilícitas entre estudantes mexicanos; assim como identificar se alguma das características assertivas como controle da conduta, reconhecimento e aceitação dos outros, enfrentamento eficaz dos problemas e diferença interpessoais, percepção de auto eficácia na solução de problemas, habilidades na expressão verbal e afetos positivos associados ao enfrentamento de problemas, predizem probabilisticamente o consumo de drogas ilícitas. Através de um desenho não experimental, transversal, ex post facto, e com uma amostragem por conveniência, foram entrevistados 1.492 estudantes de escolas secundárias localizadas em zonas de alto risco para o consumo de drogas utilizando a escala de Avaliação de Fatores Assertivos (EFA), validada na população mexicana adolescente. Dos estudantes participantes foram formados dois grupos, o de Usuários de drogas ilícitas e o de Não usuários de drogas. Ao comparar as características assertivas entre os grupos, encontrou-se que os Não usuários contam com estratégias de enfrentamento mais eficazes aos problemas, percebem maior auto eficácia em sua resolução, têm maior controle de conduta, maior reconhecimento e aceitação dos outros, apresentam mais habilidades de expressão verbal e têm um melhor controle de seus afetos. Da mesma forma identificou-se mediante uma análise de regressão logística que o controle de conduta e o reconhecimento e aceitação dos outros são elementos com maior probabilidade de atuar como elementos protetores do consumo de drogas ilícitas. Os descobrimentos confirmam a relevância das habilidades comunicativas, o controle de impulsos e o controle das emoções, para o estabelecimento de relações mais satisfatórias e no enfrentamento diante da oferta de tabaco, álcool ou outras drogas.

Estudio de la relación entre consumo de drogas y migración a la frontera norte de México y Estados Unidos

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Abstract: Since the beginning of the XX Century, migration has played an important role in the relations between Mexico and the United States. The main reasons behind most of these migration movements are to improve life conditions and already established social-familiar networks. It is estimated that approximately 390,000 Mexican people migrate each year to the United States. In 2002, Mexicans represented the biggest immigrant group, with 9.5 million people. Among the main elements that cause this migrating movement are: the increasing Mexican demographic population in prime working age, the insufficient creation of jobs, low salaries, as well as the high demand that exists for manpower in the United States, specially in the agricultural, industrial and service areas. There have been important changes in the migrating process, which modify usual behaviors, habits, values, attitudes and points of view by migrants, their families, their home town and their new environment. These changes can facilitate the development of some problems, at a public health level. Some such problems include stress, depression, risky sexual behavior, AIDS contagion, or increase in the abuse of alcohol and drugs. The Community Epidemiology Work Group and NIDA has reported that South and South East areas of the United States show a high cocaine, heroine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy abuse. Most such areas are located at the Mexican border, and this problem seems to affect both countries the same. Method. The study involved following transversal, ex post facto comparisons of migrant and no migrant users drugs. The main objectives included: a) To identifiy abuse levels of migrating drug users, and compare these results with those of Mexican resident drug abusers (non migrating); b) To identify abuse levels in migrating people before and after they moved into the United States and/ or Mexican border cities, and their degree of abuse upon returning to Mexico; c) To explore any relationships between migrating and increased drug consumption, such as heroine and methamphetamine. The participant selection procedure involved intentional, sampling by using pairs. Inclusion criteria included using ilegal drugs, being new patient in the Treatment area of Centros de Integración Juvenil (CIJ), and having migrated to any Mexican border cities and/or the United States in the last five years, and stayed for a period of three months or more. The CIJ operating units that participated in the study included those in Cancán, Celaya, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez, Colima, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Laguna, La Paz, León, Los Mochis, Monterrey, Puebla, Zacatecas and Zamora. These units were selected because of their high number of patients who are methamphetamine or heroine abusers, as well as for including a considerable rate of migrating people to the United States. The groups included 92 drug abusers, of which 46 went to the mexican north border or to the United States cities, and 46 non migrants. Data was gathered through the application of a questionnaire. Main findings. Some of the results revealed that 97.8% of the participants were male, with an average age of 26 years old (SD=7.5), and 80% had studied elementary school or higher. 1. Characteristics of the migrating process. Drug abusers, who migrated to the northern Mexican border, mainly went to Baja California and Chihuahua states. The ones who went to the United Stated were living in California, Texas, Arizona and Illinois. Among the main reasons for migrating were personal development, getting a job or improving it. Migrants also stated that they were "seeking adventure", and, those who went to the United States, said that their purpose was to solve family problems, or to follow tradition. Most of them had planned to stay at their new home for just one season, although a majority stayed over one year. 2. Drug abuse. All participants had consumed alcohol and almost 90% of them had smoked tobacco at least once in their lives. The illegal substances consumed by both migrating and non migrating participants included, in decreasing frequency order: cocaine, marijuana, inhalants, methamphetamines and sedatives. Prevalence among the migrating abusers was higher. Non migrating abusers, also consumed tranquilizers, heroine and other opiates. On the other hand, migrating abusers, had consumed, at least once in a lifetime one or more of the following substances: ecstasy, crack, basuco, methamphetamine, amphetamines, LSD and PCP. Migrants showed a higher percentage of those who had used central nervous system inhibitors (except methamphetamine), and most of them had used a combination of drugs. Those migrating to the United States predominantly consumed drugs to stimulate the central nervous system or to produce hallucinations, and also used some other non specified substances. Drug preference perception. Both groups reported a preference towards marijuana and cocaine. However, migrating abusers showed an additional preference for methamphetamine use. Migrating abusers stated that the reason for consuming this drug was mainly seeking stimulation, just to feel active and euphoric. The ones who migrated to the United States mentioned that they consume methamphetamine because of labor reasons, such as to be more productive and alert. Drug abuse before, during and after migrating. Eighty percent of migrating abusers had already used drugs before leaving their home town. During the migrating process the drug abuse pattern changed by increasing the use of some other drugs. Migrating abusers mentioned that they had used cocaine at their home place, but that during the migrating process, its consumption was significantly higher. They also mentioned that they continued using cocaine when they came back home, although at a lower rate. There was no record of opiates' use such as morphine, darvon, nubain or methadone when these abusers were in their home town, before migrating. They started using these drugs when they arrived to the north of Mexico or to the United States, and they continued using them when they returned. Only some abusers had used methamphetamine, crack, heroine and PCP before migrating. However, when they arrived to their migrating place, the use of these drugs was highly increased although it was reduced considerably when they returned home. LSD was consumed only at the migrating places. The use of tranquilizers and mushrooms was slightly decreased during the migrating process, but it increased when abusers returned home. In the case of those who went to the border, heroine abuse increased, and it decreased as abusers returned home. Only some of them used methamphetamine and ecstasy at their migrating places. On the other hand, those migrating abusers that went to the United States increased their use of methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine, and crack, although it decreased when they returned home. Some migrating abusers started using heroin when they arrived to the border, and only continued consuming it when they came home.